Container coupler arrangement

ABSTRACT

For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highway trailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, sea or air transport means, an upper between-the-containers compression spacer block and a lower tension coupler between the containers wherein the lower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in the corner fittings of tandem containers in locked and unlocked positions, key means slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing and contained thereby for each clamp for rotating each clamp about an axis and moving each clamp independently of the other clamp along such axis between locked and unlocked positions and including complementary tooth means on the clamp and on the key means for clamp rotation and the key means having key wedge portions for moving each clamp axially and for limiting rotation of each locked clamp, and, key holder means for retaining the key means in the locked position in the housing.

United States Patent [72] Inventor John J. Glassmeyer Covington, Ky. [21Appl. No. 826,852 [22] Filed May 22, 1969 [45] Patented May 11, 1971[73] Assignee Pullman Incorporated Chicago, Ill.

[54] CONTAINER COUPLER ARRANGEMENT 31 Claims, 11 Drawing Figs.

[52] US. Cl 294/67, 24/221, 220/234, 280/415, 287/2, 294/83 [51] Int. Cl1366c l/l0 [50] Field of Search 24/221; 220/23.4; 280/415; 287/2;294/67, 83

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,972,175 6/1959 Abolins24/221 3,365,229 12/1965 Hitch et a1. 294/67 3,456,967 8/ 1967Tantlinger et al 287/2 FOREIGN PATENTS 646,389 8/1962 Canada PrimaryExaminerEvon C. Blunk Assistant Examiner.lohnny D. CherryAttorneysl-lilmond O. Vogel and Wayne Morris Russell ABSTRACT: Fortandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highway trailer-typeattendant to hoisting of the containers between land, sea or airtransport means, an upper between-the-containers compression spacerblock and a lower tension coupler between the containers wherein thelower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinallyspaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in the comerfittings of tandem containers in locked and un- -locked positions, keymeans slidable inwardly and outwardly PATENTEU MAY! 1 I9?! saw 1 BF 5 INVE N TOR PATENTEU m1 1 Ian sum 3 {IF 5 INVENTOR JOHN J. GLASSMEYERPATENTED HAYI 1 I97! SHEET 4 OF 5 PATENTED RAY] 1 I97! v sum 50F 53'578'374 JOHN J. GLASSMEYER M g-W CONTAINER COUPLER ARRANGEMENT SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION This invention relates to container coupling devicesand in particular relates to coupler means for coupling two containerstogether in tandem relation in order to hoist the containers betweenvarious container transporting means such as between a highway trailerand a railroad car or an aircraft or ship and vice versa. The tandemcoupled containers may be coupled at thebottom while a spacer block orcompression member is placed between the containers at the top and thenhoisting means, such as hoist lines, may be connected to the outwardfacing upper corner fittings of each container as, for instance, shownin US. Pat. No. 3,365,229 to R. A. Hitch et al. and which patent ishereby incorporated by reference. The top compression member need onlybe hooked to one container and free of or in uncoupled relation withrespect to the other container, but the lower coupler means is to becoupled or locked to and between each of the containers at their comerfittings.

It is, therefore, a general object of this invention to provide for acoupling arrangement for coupling containers together in tandem relationwherein there is provided a compression member between the facing topsides of the container, and a coupling unit is connected to each set offacing comer fittings of the two tandem connected containers such thatthe pair of coupler means at the bottom of the containers are rotatedand axially moved relative to the containers between locked and unlockedpositions.

Another object of the invention is to provide for a bottom containercou'pler having axially spaced independently rotatable and axiallymovable clamp elements selectively oriented in and out of lockingrelation with a respective comer fitting of a set of tandem coupledcontainers.

A further object is to provide for key means in the coupler for rotatingthe clamp part of the coupler for reception into a corner fitting andwherein the keying means is provided with wedging surfaces for axiallymoving the clamp part against the inside of the container comer fittingfor tight locking of the containers together.

A further object of the invention is to provide for a coupler that haskey holder or retainer means for holding the keys in locked positionwithin the housing portion of the coupler or, in the alternate, to beused to pry the key means from the locked coupler position to theunlocked coupler position whereby the coupler may be removed from itstandem coupled container position.

These and other objects, advantages and purposes will become apparentfrom reference to the following description, appended claims andattached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is illustrative of a pair ofcoupled together containers in the process of being hoisted from atrailer means and employing the novel container'tandem coupler;

a coupler housing adapted for placement between a pair of tandem unitsand adapted to engage respective recesses in each of the unitsattendant'to coupling of the units aligned FIG. 3 is an end view of thebottom coupler means showing a clamp in the locked position;

FIG. 4 is a top plan sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a side elevational sectional view taken along line 5-5 of FIG.4;

FIG. 6 is a perspective end view of the tandem container coupler;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the tandem container coupler;

FIG. 8 is an end view of the coupler with the key holder or retainermeans mounted thereon;

FIG.'9 is a plan view of the coupler and coupler retainer arrangement;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the coupler and coupler retainerarrangement; and

FIG. 11 is a section view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With reference to the drawingsand particularly with reference to FIG. I, there is shown a pair ofcoupled together containers, 1 and 2, the containers being in end-to-endlongitudinally placed tandem relation with respect to one another. Theforward and rearward containers, 1 and 2, are mounted on the trailerunderframe or chassis 3 which has a forward landing gear 4 in the downposition and a rear bogie arrangement 5. The fore and aft containers, 1and 2, may be coupled together while being mounted on this frame orchassis 3 but bottom coupler means 6 located at the lower facing comerfittings 8 of each container and a compression block means or spacer 7may be located between the tops of the containers at their respectivecorner fittings 8. Each lower comer fitting 8 is of standardizedconstruction. Since the containers, 1 and 2, are coupled together attheir bottom facing portions, a crane hoist line 9 (schematically shown)may be attached to each of the lower outer comer fittings 8 of eachcontainer whereby the container may be hoisted from the trailer chassisonto a railroad car, a ship or an aircraft, etc. This generalarrangement is known, as, for instance, in the aforementioned US Pat.No. 3,365,229. By such a method of coupling the two containers togetherlongitudinally, one large container is formed, for instance: two 20-footcontainers may be coupled to permit handling as a 40-foot container.

With reference to FIG. 2, it is seen that each of the top cornerfittings of each of the containers that face one another includes acavity 10 and is provided with a side aperture 11 and a rear aperture12, a horizontal outer support bar 13 and a vertical outer wall 14 and avertical sidewall 15 and a horizontal outer wall 16 with an opening 17.The aperture 12 in the vertical end wall 14 of each lower corner fitting8 is elongated in shape having a vertical axis of greater extent thanthe horizontal axis, that is, the hole is vertically elongated relativeto its horizontal width for purposes to be described later. The otherlower corner fittings 8 are similarly constructed. The compression blockmember or spacer 7 is adapted by means of its hook element 18 to coupleto the horizontal bar 13 of an upper corner casting orfitting 8 whilethe block portion 19 is located outwardly-and rests against the verticalwall 14 of the upper corner fitting 8. The blockportion 19 has ahorizontal transverse extent approximate its vertical extent and itshorizontal longitudinal extent. A spacer element 7 is inserted into'each of the two facing comer fittings 8 of one container so as tohave the outside vertical surface 20 of the block 19 abut the verticalwall 14 of the adjacent corner fitting of the other container. It is tobe noted that the spacer does not couple the containers together butmerely acts as a compression member between each of the facing cornersof each of the containers thus requiring two spacers for a pair of the20-foot containers. The hook element 18 comprises a vertically,extendinghook portion 21, and a top transversely extending arm or crossmember 22extends generally the transverse extent or width of the recessl0 andrests against the inside of thetransverse horizontal crossarm 1 3. Theupper spacer 7 is a compression device and is a steel casting, havingthe generally blocklike appearance with the hook-shaped protuberance 18on one side. When the upper spacer isplaced in a container comerfitting, it cannot possibly fall out and can be removed only by raisingupward on the block element or section 19 until the hook section I8canhe slid out of the aperture 12 in an upper comer fitting 8. The uppercompression member 7 acts only in compression and not in tension asdistinguished from the spacer or upper coupler member shown in U.S. Pat.No. 3,365,299 which latter coupler does couple the top portions of thecontainer together.

A pair of lower couplers 6 are'provided between the lower corners ofeach the containers, 1 and 2, that face one another and are, therefore,inner lower corners 8 as distinguished from the outer corners which areon opposite spaced apart ends of the respective containers, 1 and 2.Each lower coupler 6 is a tension coupling device and it actuallycouples the containers together for taking compression and tensileforces but in the arrangement shown in FlG. 1 where the containers arehoisted as a unit, the pair of lower couplers connecting each lower sideend portion of the containers together acts only in tension. Each lowercoupler 6 comprises a two-piece cast steel housing 23 (the two separatehousing sections or pieces 24 and 25 being welded together), key means26 including two steel keys 27 and 28, clamp means 29 for operating bythe key means, the clamp means being two cast steel doorknobshapedclamps 30 and 31, and a key holder or retainer bar means 32. The clampmeans 29 is movably constrained within the housing 23 and is movedrotatably and axially by the key means 26 whereby the clamp means 29 islocked against the inside of the wall 14 of each of the containers forlocking them together and maintained in this locked condition by the keyretainer means 32. As best seen in FIGS. 2, 4, 5 and 6, the interior ofthe housing 23 has an annularly shaped central chamber 33 having acentral reduced portion 34 which I reciprocally receives the wedge orinclined clamp portion 35 of each of the clamp elements 30 and 31 andhaving a pair of enlarged chamber portions 36 on either side of thereduced portion 34 for slidably receiving key members 27 and 28 andhaving a pair of further reduced outer end chamber portions 37 throughwhich extend the shank clamp portions 38 of the clamp elements 30-and31. The interior of the housing 23 further has key-engaging surfaces orhousing shoulder portions 39 at the upper and lower inside wall surfacesof the side 40 of the housing 23, the side 40 of housing section 24being the location at which the key members 27 and 28 move inwardly andoutwardly of, as seen, for instance, in F IGS. 6 or 7. The housing 23also has key exiting vertically elongated rectangular apertures 41 foreach of the keys 27 and 28 and is also provided with round apertures 42formed by the reduced portions 37 for letting the clamp shanks 38 extendoutwardly of the housing, the housing portions 37 in conjunction withthe housing portion 34 rotatably journaling the shank 38 and wedge 35 ofeach of the clamps. The housing section 25 has a side 43, as seen inFIG. 4, provided with a retainer bar aper ture 44 and has openings orrectangular slots 45 which are vertically elongated and communicate withthe chambers or central reduced portion 34 whereby the keys 27 and 28may be withdrawn completely within the housing 23. The side 46 of eachof the housing sections 24 and 25 that face the containers are providedwith an elongated centrally annular protuberance 47 which defines thebore 37. The protuberance 47 is formed by a'lug structure 48 on eachsection 24 and 25 and when these lug sections 48, 48 are broughttogether they define the protuberance or corner casting entering member47. The central part of each lug section 48 is in the shape of asemicircular lug section 48a and the upper and lower ends of each lugsection 48 form projections 48b, the lug sections 48b of each of thehousing sections 24 and 25 forming the projections 47 for entrance intothe end or rear aperture 12 in a respective comer fitting. The sections48a and 48b of the lug structure 48 of each section 24 or 25 that formthe protuberance 47 are best seen in FIG. 7.

The clamps 30 and 31 of the clamp means 29 are best seen in FIGS. 4, 5and 7. The keys 27 and 28 rotate the clamps 30 and 31 90 respectivelybut in opposite direction to one another as indicated by the arrows in FlG. 7. Each clamp 30 or 31 is similar in construction to the otherexcept that they face outwardly of one another from the side 46 of thehousing 23 and so description of one will suffice for the other. Theclamp member 30, as previously mentioned, has the shank portion 38 whichis an annular shaft portion upon which are located serrations or teeth49; for engagement with its respective key 27, the teeth 49.0f the clamp31 cooperating with the key 28. The clamp element 30 is further providedwith an elongated outer fiat clamp portion 50 and an inner wedge orinclined clamp portion or cam portion 35 as previously mentioned. Thecam portion 35 is generally elliptical in its peripheral camming surface51 and has an outer wall or surface 52 which is generally flat andvertical and has an opposed inner slope or wedging surface 53 whichcooperates withits respective key upon rotation thereby to move theclamp 30 axially of itself or in a direction inward into the aperture 12of a respective comer fitting 8, that is to say, that the wedgingsurface 53 is wider at the top and tapers to be narrower at the bottomwhen the clamp portion 50 is in a vertical position where the elongationof the clamp portion 50 extends vertically for entrance into theaperture 12 of the comer fitting. The clamp portion 50 of the clamp 30or 31 that enters the aperture 12 in a comer fitting has an elongatebody having pyramid or tapering sides 50a which converge to form an apex50b, as seen in FIG. 4, for instance. In the unlocked nonrotatedposition these flats 50a, 50a extend vertically and are elongated. Theclamp portion is further defined by double sides or ends 50c whichoppose one another and are at right angles to sides 50a, 50a. As will benoted in FlG. 4, the inside or back side surface 50d of each clampportion 50 attached to the shaft portion 38 is flat for engagement withthe flat inside wall 54 of the corner fitting 8. The key 27 extendsoutwardly of the housing 23 and the head clamp portion 50 has itselongate surfaces 50a extending vertically with the back surface 50dbeing away from the inside wall 54 of the corner fitting 8 whereas thehead portion 50 of the clamp element 31 has its pyramid sides 50ahorizontal with the flat back wall 50d engaging with the inside wall 54of the corner casting and the key 28 extended completely within thehousing 23. Thus, not only is the clamp 31 rotated 90 but it is drawninwardly toward the housing 23 and in engagement with the corner castingwall as distinguished from the clamp 30.

The key members 27 and 28 are selectively receivable independently ofone another within the housing 23 by way of entrant portions orapertures 41 as seen in Fig. 7. Each key 27 or 28 is similarlyconstructed to the other except that the tooth locking portion andantirotating ledge portion of one key are located l 49 in a verticalposition form those on the other key, as will be readily apparent fromstudying FIG. 7. Therefore, a description of one key 27 will suffice forthe other key 28 wherein the same references may be used for like partson either key, since one of the keys may be rotated 180 and then beidentical in construction to the other. Also, each clamp 30 or 31 isidentical to the other in construction but is so positioned that itscamming portion faces the other with the camming portion of theleft-hand clamp, as viewed in FlG. 7, being wider at the top and thecamming portion of the righthand clamp 31, as viewed in FIG. 7, beingnarrower at the top. By this arrangement of the respective keys andclamps, the clamps may be rotated by the keys to prevent withdrawal ofthe clamps by the corner fittings with the advantage that the clamps andthe keys are interchangeable since they are identical in constructionexcept that they must be properly oriented within the housing forlocking and unlocking of the clamps 30 and 31.

The key 27 is a generally upright or vertical plate structure 55including a handle or grasping plate portion 56 which is generallyrectangular in shape and is provided with a generally centrally locatedtool or hand grasping aperture 57 extending through its sides and isprovided with upper and lower notch portions 58 equally spaced from itstop and bottom surfaces to permit 180 rotation of the key and stillpermit the retaining bar means 32 to engage either of the notches 58, aswill later be explained. The plate portion has extending from it in aninward direction into the housing 23, vertically spaced upper and lowerkey arm portions 59 and 60. The upper key arm portion has an elongatedbar or toothed runner 61 and a horizontally extending wedge portion 62.The runner 61 has downwardly projecting teeth 63 for engagement withteeth 49 for rotation of the latter. The wedge portion 62 engages withthe inside surface 53 of the cam clamp portion 35 of the clamp 30 andsince the wedge 62 has an inwardly extending inwardly tapering surface62a as the key moves inward in rotating the clamp portion 50, the entireclamp 30 is also moved axially of itself inwardly into the housing 23for snug engagement of the clamp portion 50 against the inside of therear wall of a comer fitting. The lower key arm portion is also providedwith a wedge portion 62 and a tapered surface 62a to complement theaction of the upper wedge with its tapered surface and the lower key armportion 60 is also provided with a runner 64 which, in conjunction withthe upper runner, guides the key 27 into the entranceway 41 and thechamber 36. The lower runner 64 also has on top of it a locking wedge 65which presents a flat surface to be spaced adjacent to the cutout orflat 380 on the clamp 30 or 31. This flat 38a on the shank clamp portion38 is 90 from the teeth 49 on the shank portion 38 so that when theaffected clamp 30 or 31 is rotated from the unlocked position tothe'locked position, the flat or surface 38a is placed opposite thelocking wedge surface 65a, the latter then preventing rotation of theclamp 30 or 31 in the locked position thereof. Either of the keys may bemanually pushed or, by means of a hook, passed through aperture 57, thenpushed into the housing 23 and may be similarly removed by grasping theaperture 57 because of the semicircular cutouts 57a provided in theentrant part of the housing portion 24 of the housing 23, as seen in H0.7.

The key holder or retainer bar means 32 is best seen in FIGS. 2, 8, 9and 10. The purpose of the retainer bar means is to hold the keys withinthe housing in the locked position whereby the containers are held toone another at their lower facing ends for transferring the containersin tandem relation from one place to another or from one form oftransportation to another. The holder or retainer means 32 comprisesgenerally an elongated rectangularly shaped bar member 66 having agenerally C-shaped clamp or key fastener 67 attached to one end 68 (seeFIG. 8) by bolt 69, the lower inwardly directed horizontal end flange 70of the C-shaped clamp 67 being nestled in one of the upper or lower setsof notches 58 in the keys 27 and 28 to retain both keys within thehousing 23. .In this regard it is to be noted that the entrant end ofthe housing section 24 is provided with an L-shaped notched out portion440 more or less directly opposite of the aperture 44 in the housingsection 25, the L-shaped notched out portion 44a cooperating with eitherof the upper or lower notches 58 of each key 27 and 28 to receive theclamp flange 70. Below the L-shaped notch portion 440 is thesemicircular or quarter-round-shaped notch 57b which cooperates withopen end apertures 57a to expose the apertures 57 in each of the keys 27and 28 to the hand or other means for jointly pulling out both keys 27and 28 in unison. Another L-shaped notch 44a is provided in the lowerentrant end part of the housing section 24 permitting the housingsection 24 to be rotated 180 in either direction for the end flange 70to contact either of the notches 44a, 44a. The retainer bar mounts injournals 71 fixed on top of the bar and intermediate its ends anS-shpaed plunger 72, as seen in FIG. 8. The plunger 72 is in the form ofa rod and has a horizontal bar portion 73 extending toward the other end74 of the bar and above the bar and has a vertical portion 75 facingtoward the end 68 of the-bar and extending through an opening 76 in thebar downwardly below the bar and connecting with a horizontal endportion 77 of the plunger which portion 77 is directed toward the end 68and extends into the aperture 44 in the section of the housing 23 and isin general alignment with the clamp flange 70 cooperating therewith toclamp or retain the keys 27 and 28 within the housing 23. The spring 78is around the portion 73 between seat means 79a fixed on horizontalportion 73 and the other of the trunnions or journals 71 and the otherinner journal 71 urging the plunger toward the C-shaped clamp 67 tosnugly hold the keys within the housing. A plunger release ring orhandle 78 is provided at the end of the horizontal portion 73 towithdraw the plunger from the opening 44. The retaining bar may also beused as a prying member, for it is provided with cylindrical-shapedlaterally opposed lug portions 79 carried by arms 80 that form a crosswith the elongated bar 66. The lug or prying portions 79 when placed ina vertical position, that is, when one lug portion 79 is spacedvertically with respect to another lug portion, one of the lug portionsmay be entered between the keys 27 and 28 while they are completelywithin the housing and the one of the ears or prying portions 79 may beinserted into the aperture 57 of one of the keys 27 and 28 and the barmay then be pulled on to withdraw one of the keys at a time.

In operation the keys may independently be reciprocated inwardly andoutwardly of the housing 23 but they cannot fall out as the ends 5911 or600 at the top and bottom of each of the keys abuts against the innerwall key-engaging surfaces or housing shoulder portions 39.

The operation of the tension coupling device is as follows: With thewedges in the outward position and the crossarms on the clamps in avertical attitude, the device is lifted into position so that thecrossarm on one end of the assembly enters the oblong aperture in thefront face of the lower container corner fitting. The wedge nearest thecontainer is then forced inward. The pair of teeth on the wedge engagethe notches in the shank of the clamp, rotating the clamp as the wedgemoves inward. Further inward motion of the wedge causes the inclinedsurface of the wedge to slide along the inclined plane on thecylindrical knob section of the clamp, thereby forcing the clamp to moveaxially, causing the crossarm to bear against the inside wall of thecomer fitting. The second container is then brought into position,sliding over the vertical crossarm of the second clamp until it buttsagainst the wall of the coupler housing. The second wedge is then driveninward thereby rotating and pulling up the second clamp. The springloaded retaining bar is then snapped into the locking grooves in theback of the two wedges. This prevents the wedges from vibrating out ifthe forces acting on the coupler should be relieved. Uncoupling of twocontainers is accomplished by prying the spring-loaded retaining bar outof engagement with the wedges and pulling the wedges outward with a hookwhich enters the hole provided. Pulling the wedges out rotates theclamps 90 to a vertical attitude which permits the twocontainers to bemoved apart from each other.

As various changes could be made in the above construction withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

lclaim:

l. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relationcomprising:

a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the units and unitclamp means exiting from the housing and adapted for coupling with eachunit,

said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adapted for receptionin a coupling recess of one unit and a second clamp member adapted forreception within the recess of a second unit,

each clamp member having a clamp head portion constructed for receptionwithin the unit recess in an unlocked position and in a locked position,

key means reciprocally disposed within the housing and adapted tocooperate with the clamp means attendant to locking and unlocking of thecoupling device with the units,

said key means comprising a pair of key elements reciprocally extendablein and out of said housing,

one of said key elements being operatively engageable with one clampmember for operation of the latter between locked and unlocked positionsand the other key element likewise cooperative with the other clampmember for operation thereof between locked and unlocked positions.

2. The invention according to claim 1, and

said key means being disposed transversely to said clamping headportions.

3. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element being selectively movable inwardly and outwardly of theinterior of said housing whereupon inward movement of the key elementinto the housing rotates the respective clamp head portion to the lockedposition from the unlocked position and outward movement of each keyelement rotates the respective clamp head portion from the locked to theunlocked position.

4. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element being provided with a vertically spaced runner memberhaving an interlocking section and each clamp member having acomplementary interlocking section adapted for engagement with theinterlocking section of the respective key runner member upon movementof the respective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted torotate the respective clamp member to the locked position,

each key element having a second runner member spaced from the firstnamed runner member and having a locking surface,

each clamp member having a complementary locking surface whereuponintermeshing of said locked sections on the first runner member and onthe clamp member orients the locking surfaces of the second runnermember and the clamp member to prevent rotation of said clamp member inthe locked position thereof.

5. The invention according to claim 4, and

the interlocking section of one clamp member being oriented generally180 from the interlocking section of the other clamp member and thelocking surface of one key member being oriented generally 180 from thelocking surface of the other key member.

' 6. The invention according to claim 1, and

each clamp ember and each key element having complementary lockingsurfaces limiting rotation of the clamp member. with respect to the keyelement in the locked position.

7. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element having an interlocking section and each clamp memberhaving a complementary interlocking section adapted for engagement withthe interlocking section of the respective key element upon movement ofrespective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted to rotate therespective clamp member to the locked position.

8. The invention according to claim 1, and

each clamp member being provided with a cam and each key element beingprovided with a cam engaging wedge,

said wedge and said cam each being tapered to provide for transversemovement of the clamp member relative to the key element upon engagementand movement of the key element against the clamp member for rotatingthe cam and causing transverse movement of the cam member relative tothe key element.

9. The invention according to claim 1, and

said housing being provided with container entering lug portions aboutthe rotatable clamp head portions attendant to guiding of the housingand clamp head portions into the respective unit recesses and fixingrelative movement between the housing and the respective container.

10. The invention according to claim 9, and

each of said aligning lug portions being spaced from one another on eachside of the housing and on opposite sides of the clamping headpositions.

11. The invention according to claim 1, and

said clamp head portion being elongated for reception into an elongatedrecess of the unit whereupon when the clamp head is transverselyrotated, removal of the clamp from the clamp head portion unit recess isprevented.

112. The invention according to claim 1, and

each of said clamp members being rotated by a respective key memberindependent of the other clamp member.

13. The invention according to claim 1, and

each key element being generally a duplicate of the other but orientedgenerally 180 with respect to the other.

14. The invention according to claim l, and

each clamp member being generally a duplicate of the other but orientedgenerally 180 with respect to the other clamp member.

15. The invention according to claim 1, an

said key means being provided with means for withdrawing the key meansfrom the housing.

16. The invention according to claim 1, and

key retainer means mounted on the housing and having one end engagingthe key means and the other end engaging the opposite side of thehousing,

said retainer means including a first end so clamping said key means anda second movable end engaging the other side of said housing, and

means holding the ends of the key retainer means on the housingattendant to holding the key means in the hous- 17. The inventionaccording to claim 16, and

the retainer means being provided with key prying means adapted to beinserted into the key means for prying the key means outwardly of thehousing for unlocking of the clamp members.

18. The invention according to claim 1, and

key retainer means mountable on the housing and including means engagingthe key means and the housing in the locked position attendant toholding the key means in the housing in the locked position.

19. The invention according to claim 1, and

said housing comprising a pair of housings affixed together andentraining the key means and the container clamp members within thehousing.

20. The invention according to claim 1, and

said unit clamp members and said key means being provided with abutmentmeans adapted for engaging the interior surface of the housing toprevent removal of the key means and the clamp members from the housing.

21. For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highwaytrailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, seaor arr transport means:

an upper between-the-containers compression spacer block and a lowertension coupler between the containers wherein the lower couplercomprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinally spaced rotatablecontainer tandem locking clamps receivable in the corner fittings oftandem containers in locked and unlocked positions,

key means slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing and containedthereby for each clamp for rotating each clamp about an axis and movingeach clamp independently of the other clamp along such axis betweenlocked and unlocked positions and including complementary means on theclamp and on the key means for clamp rotation and the key means havingkey wedge portions for moving each clamp axially and for limitingrotation of each locked clamp, and

key holder means for retaining the key means in the locked position inthe housing.

22. A container coupler device comprising:

a coupler housing adapted for placement between a pair of tandem unitsand adapted to engage respective recesses in each of the units attendantto coupling of the units together,

a clamp member exiting from each side of the housing and adapted tocouple with a respective unit recess in a longitudinal direction,

a pair of transversely independently movable key members reciprocallyextendable in and cut of said housing,

each key member operatively engaging with a respective clamp member forrotation thereof independent of the other clamp member for orienting arespective clamp member inwardly of a recess and irremovably from saidrecess,

each of said key members and its complementary cooperating clamp memberhaving wedging portions cooperative with one another to move the clampmember axially upon transverse movement of the activating key memberattendant to placing the clamp member tightly against the interior wallof the unit recess for rigidly and snugly locking the units with respectto one another, and

key retainer means disposed over the housing in clamping relation withrespect to the key members in preventing movement of the key membersoutwardly of the housing and thereby preventing axial and rotationalmovement of the clamp members.

23. The invention according to claim 22, and

said coupler device coupling the lower portions of the units and actingin tension,

an upper compressive element being disposable between the upper portionsof the units and coupleable to one of the units, and

means for placement at the outer ends of each of the units for couplingwith suitable hoisting means attendant to lifting the units togetherfrom one place to another.

24. A coupling device for attaching two units together in tandemrelation comprising:

a housing,

a first coupler member rotatably mounted in said housing and having ahead extending outwardly therefrom,

a second coupler member rotatably mounted in the housing and extendingoutwardly therefrom, and

means reciprocally insertable inwardly and out of the housing andconnecting with each coupler member for selective rotation "of eachcoupler member independently of the other between locked and unlockedpositions with respect to a respective unit.

25. The invention according to claim 24, and

said means for rotating each coupler member independently comprising:

a pair of slide members, each slide member being mounted in said housingfor reciprocal motion transverse to the axis of rotation of each of thecoupler members and con necting with a respective coupler member.

26. The invention according to claim 25, and

retainer means containing each of the slide members within the housingto prevent rotation of the coupler members in the locked positionthereof.

27. The invention according to claim 26, and said last-mentioned meansbeing provided with wedging means for independently moving each of thecoupler members in axial opposition relative to the other, attendant tolocking of the respective coupler member.

28. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relationcomprising:

a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the units and unitclamp means extending from the housing and adapted for coupling witheach unit,

said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adapted for receptionin a recess of one unit and a second clamp means adapted for receptionin the recess of a second unit,

each clamp member being independently movable with respect to the otherclamp member and each clamp member having a clamp head portionconstructed for reception within the unit recess in an unlocked positionand in a locked position, and

key means disposed within said housing and operatively connected witheach clamp member attendant to locking and unlocking the same with aunit.

29. The invention according to claim 28, and

said key means comprising a pair of key elements reciprocally extendablein and out of the housing,

each key element being cooperative with and for the movement of arespective clamp member attendant to placing the clamp member betweenlocked and unlocked positrons.

30. The invention according to claim 28, and

each clamp member having means cooperative with key means for movingeach clamp member axially thereof attendant to locking the clamp memberwith respect to its unit 31. The invention according to claim 28, and

said key means having means engaging with a respective clamp memberattendant to rotating said clamp member between locked and unlockedpositions independently of the other clamp member.

1. A coupling device for attaching two units in tandem relationcomprising: a coupler housing adapted to be disposed between the unitsand unit clamp means exiting from the housing and adapted for couplingwith each unit, said clamp means comprising a first clamp member adaptedfor reception in a coupling recess of one unit and a second clamp memberadapted for reception within the recess of a second unit, each clampmember having a clamp head portion constructed for reception within theunit recess in an unlocked position and in a locked position, key meansreciprocally disposed within the housing and adapted to cooperate withthe clamp means attendant to locking and unlocking of the couplingdevice with the units, said key means comprising a pair of key elementsreciprocally extendable in and out of said housing, one of said keyelements being operatively engageable with one clamp member foroperation of the latter between locked and unlocked positions and theother key element likewise cooperative with the other clamp member foroperation thereof between locked and unlocked positions.
 2. Theinvention according to claim 1, and said key means being disposedtransversely to said clamping head portions.
 3. The invention accordingto claim 1, and each key element being selectively movable inwardly andoutwardly of the interior of said housing whereupon inward movement ofthe key element into the housing rotates the respective clamp headportion to the locked position from the unlocked position and outwardmovement of each key element rotates the respective clamp head portionfrom the locked to the unlocked position.
 4. The invention according toclaim 1, and each key element being provided with a vertically spacedrunner member having an interlocking section and each clamp memberhaving a complementary interlocking section adapted for engagement withthe interlocking section of the respective key runner member uponmovement of the respective key element inwardly of the housing andadapted to rotate the respective clamp member to the locked position,each key element having a second runner member spaced from the firstnamed runner member and having a locking surface, each clamp memberhaving a complementary locking surface whereupon intermeshing of saidlocked sections on the first runner member and on tHe clamp memberorients the locking surfaces of the second runner member and the clampmember to prevent rotation of said clamp member in the locked positionthereof.
 5. The invention according to claim 4, and the interlockingsection of one clamp member being oriented generally 180* from theinterlocking section of the other clamp member and the locking surfaceof one key member being oriented generally 180* from the locking surfaceof the other key member.
 6. The invention according to claim 1, and eachclamp ember and each key element having complementary locking surfaceslimiting rotation of the clamp member with respect to the key element inthe locked position.
 7. The invention according to claim 1, and each keyelement having an interlocking section and each clamp member having acomplementary interlocking section adapted for engagement with theinterlocking section of the respective key element upon movement ofrespective key element inwardly of the housing and adapted to rotate therespective clamp member to the locked position.
 8. The inventionaccording to claim 1, and each clamp member being provided with a camand each key element being provided with a cam engaging wedge, saidwedge and said cam each being tapered to provide for transverse movementof the clamp member relative to the key element upon engagement andmovement of the key element against the clamp member for rotating thecam and causing transverse movement of the cam member relative to thekey element.
 9. The invention according to claim 1, and said housingbeing provided with container entering lug portions about the rotatableclamp head portions attendant to guiding of the housing and clamp headportions into the respective unit recesses and fixing relative movementbetween the housing and the respective container.
 10. The inventionaccording to claim 9, and each of said aligning lug portions beingspaced from one another on each side of the housing and on oppositesides of the clamping head positions.
 11. The invention according toclaim 1, and said clamp head portion being elongated for reception intoan elongated recess of the unit whereupon when the clamp head istransversely rotated, removal of the clamp from the clamp head portionunit recess is prevented.
 12. The invention according to claim 1, andeach of said clamp members being rotated by a respective key memberindependent of the other clamp member.
 13. The invention according toclaim 1, and each key element being generally a duplicate of the otherbut oriented generally 180* with respect to the other.
 14. The inventionaccording to claim 1, and each clamp member being generally a duplicateof the other but oriented generally 180* with respect to the other clampmember.
 15. The invention according to claim 1, and said key means beingprovided with means for withdrawing the key means from the housing. 16.The invention according to claim 1, and key retainer means mounted onthe housing and having one end engaging the key means and the other endengaging the opposite side of the housing, said retainer means includinga first end so clamping said key means and a second movable end engagingthe other side of said housing, and means holding the ends of the keyretainer means on the housing attendant to holding the key means in thehousing.
 17. The invention according to claim 16, and the retainer meansbeing provided with key prying means adapted to be inserted into the keymeans for prying the key means outwardly of the housing for unlocking ofthe clamp members.
 18. The invention according to claim 1, and keyretainer means mountable on the housing and including means engaging thekey means and the housing in the locked position attendant to holdingthe key means in the housing in the locked position.
 19. The inventionaccording to claim 1, and said housinG comprising a pair of housingsaffixed together and entraining the key means and the container clampmembers within the housing.
 20. The invention according to claim 1, andsaid unit clamp members and said key means being provided with abutmentmeans adapted for engaging the interior surface of the housing toprevent removal of the key means and the clamp members from the housing.21. For tandem coupling together of cargo containers of the highwaytrailer-type attendant to hoisting of the containers between land, seaor air transport means: an upper between-the-containers compressionspacer block and a lower tension coupler between the containers whereinthe lower coupler comprises a housing carrying a pair of longitudinallyspaced rotatable container tandem locking clamps receivable in thecorner fittings of tandem containers in locked and unlocked positions,key means slidable inwardly and outwardly of the housing and containedthereby for each clamp for rotating each clamp about an axis and movingeach clamp independently of the other clamp along such axis betweenlocked and unlocked positions and including complementary means on theclamp and on the key means for clamp rotation and the key means havingkey wedge portions for moving each clamp axially and for limitingrotation of each locked clamp, and key holder means for retaining thekey means in the locked position in the housing.
 22. A container couplerdevice comprising: a coupler housing adapted for placement between apair of tandem units and adapted to engage respective recesses in eachof the units attendant to coupling of the units together, a clamp memberexiting from each side of the housing and adapted to couple with arespective unit recess in a longitudinal direction, a pair oftransversely independently movable key members reciprocally extendablein and cut of said housing, each key member operatively engaging with arespective clamp member for rotation thereof independent of the otherclamp member for orienting a respective clamp member inwardly of arecess and irremovably from said recess, each of said key members andits complementary cooperating clamp member having wedging portionscooperative with one another to move the clamp member axially upontransverse movement of the activating key member attendant to placingthe clamp member tightly against the interior wall of the unit recessfor rigidly and snugly locking the units with respect to one another,and key retainer means disposed over the housing in clamping relationwith respect to the key members in preventing movement of the keymembers outwardly of the housing and thereby preventing axial androtational movement of the clamp members.
 23. The invention according toclaim 22, and said coupler device coupling the lower portions of theunits and acting in tension, an upper compressive element beingdisposable between the upper portions of the units and coupleable to oneof the units, and means for placement at the outer ends of each of theunits for coupling with suitable hoisting means attendant to lifting theunits together from one place to another.
 24. A coupling device forattaching two units together in tandem relation comprising: a housing, afirst coupler member rotatably mounted in said housing and having a headextending outwardly therefrom, a second coupler member rotatably mountedin the housing and extending outwardly therefrom, and means reciprocallyinsertable inwardly and out of the housing and connecting with eachcoupler member for selective rotation of each coupler memberindependently of the other between locked and unlocked positions withrespect to a respective unit.
 25. The invention according to claim 24,and said means for rotating each coupler member independentlycomprising: a pair of slide members, each slide member being mounted insaid housing for reciprocal motion transverse to the axis of rotatioN ofeach of the coupler members and connecting with a respective couplermember.
 26. The invention according to claim 25, and retainer meanscontaining each of the slide members within the housing to preventrotation of the coupler members in the locked position thereof.
 27. Theinvention according to claim 26, and said last-mentioned means beingprovided with wedging means for independently moving each of the couplermembers in axial opposition relative to the other, attendant to lockingof the respective coupler member.
 28. A coupling device for attachingtwo units in tandem relation comprising: a coupler housing adapted to bedisposed between the units and unit clamp means extending from thehousing and adapted for coupling with each unit, said clamp meanscomprising a first clamp member adapted for reception in a recess of oneunit and a second clamp means adapted for reception in the recess of asecond unit, each clamp member being independently movable with respectto the other clamp member and each clamp member having a clamp headportion constructed for reception within the unit recess in an unlockedposition and in a locked position, and key means disposed within saidhousing and operatively connected with each clamp member attendant tolocking and unlocking the same with a unit.
 29. The invention accordingto claim 28, and said key means comprising a pair of key elementsreciprocally extendable in and out of the housing, each key elementbeing cooperative with and for the movement of a respective clamp memberattendant to placing the clamp member between locked and unlockedpositions.
 30. The invention according to claim 28, and each clampmember having means cooperative with key means for moving each clampmember axially thereof attendant to locking the clamp member withrespect to its unit
 31. The invention according to claim 28, and saidkey means having means engaging with a respective clamp member attendantto rotating said clamp member between locked and unlocked positionsindependently of the other clamp member.